very sorry about what happened, but it isn’t your fault. You didn’t know that was going to happen. And Kimberly is a wonderful girl. Her head seems to be on her shoulders straight. You can’t protect everyone … but I certainly understand you a lot better now.”
“I get a little out of control sometimes. If anyone can take care of themselves, it’s you.”
Ava released his hand and then slowly rubbed her palm up his chest. It felt damn good for her to finally be willing to touch him. Gazing down into her big green eyes, it took everything in him to resist leaning down and kissing her. He needed her to do it. To show him how she felt and that she did, in fact, want him. He already knew he wanted her in a bad way.
Her fingers crept behind his neck, and she rose up. Her mouth was close, and all he would have to do was move an inch forward and he could taste her sweetness. His gaze was locked on her lips. Ava sucked her bottom lip in a little, and he thought it was cute. This feisty woman was nervous to make the move, and it warmed his heart to know she had a soft side.
Finally, she must have found courage because her lips took his in a greedy way. In no time at all, her tongue swooped in, and all thinking was out the door. Ava started out cautiously but, out of nowhere, she shoved him back onto the couch and climbed into his lap. As she straddled him, she pushed her top half against him as if she was trying to glue herself to him.
She smelled wonderful—a mix of fresh flowers and a hint of honey. Between how good she tasted and smelled, he really was wondering if she was an angel from heaven, coming to take him home. Home. That was just how she made him feel.
Ava moved her body so she now sat in his lap and grinded against him. Good God! As she hit his crotch and moved the way she did, he worried he was going to react the same way a high school boy would.
Pulling away from her kiss, he gripped her shoulders and pushed her back. “Slow down, or else this is going to be over much sooner than either of us is hoping for.”
It took a moment for his words to register, and then she giggled. “Sorry. I guess I got a little carried away.”
She leaned forward and let her lips trail down his neck to his collarbone. Her lips sucked in a little, and then her tongue gently traced where her mouth had been. His zipper was getting awfully tight, and he wondered just how far this should go. He wanted to take her. Carry her back to his bed, undress her, taste each and every inch of her, and then bring her hopefully the best pleasure she’d ever experienced, but something in him told him tonight was not that night. The circumstances of her coming here and the reality of the real world slammed into him, reminding him that Ava had to leave.
“I hate to tell you this, but you really must stop. We can’t go any further,” he said.
“I know we can’t, but it feels so good.” She looked deep into his eyes. “Maybe we could.”
She wanted to be with him. This made it so much worse. “If you stay any longer and someone sees you here, I could lose my job. We aren’t supposed to be in contact until this case gets solved.”
Ava climbed out of his lap and sat next to him. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault. Someone is trying to make it look like me, and I was sure I’d find them, but my team here in Brookfield is excellent. They will find the SOB without me.”
“I’m sure whoever it is means no harm. Simply trying to give me a scare. They obviously don’t know me. I don’t scare easily, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Seth chuckled. “Tell me about it. Even I couldn’t get you to leave.” He reached out and took her hand. “And that was one of the stupidest things I ever wanted.”
“I’m still a little thrown by this curveball. One moment, you hate me then you like me, but I think I’ll take it for what it is.”
“How do you think I feel? One minute, you are giving me dirty
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